Des Moines Sun

Senators Chuck Grassley, Tammy Duckworth, and Dick Durbin, along with Representative Eric Sorensen, met with Acting Army Materiel Commander Lieutenant General Christopher Mohan to discuss the potential effects of the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI) on Rock Island Arsenal and the surrounding Quad Cities area. The ATI proposes major changes to Army operations, including reducing or consolidating headquarters that are considered redundant.

During the briefing, the lawmakers questioned how these changes might affect both the workforce and mission at Rock Island Arsenal. They also asked about the timeline for implementing the initiative. Lieutenant General Mohan agreed to provide documentation detailing the Army’s analysis of these impacts.

“There are clear economic and national security reasons for ensuring the work at Rock Island Arsenal continues. It plays a vital role in our national defense, and it’s a key driver for the Quad Cities’ economy. I appreciated hearing more details from the Army about its plans and how the Arsenal will retain its significance in supporting our warfighters. As those plans move forward, I will continue to work with my colleagues and the Army to support the Arsenal, its important work and the jobs it sustains in the region,” Grassley said.

“The Rock Island Arsenal is an economic engine for the entire Quad Cities region and plays an important role in our national security. I am deeply committed to the Army and its future—I support Army modernization, but we must balance modernization with readiness. I’ll keep working with my colleagues on the federal level to protect operations and ensure that the Arsenal has the support it needs to succeed for years to come,” Duckworth said.

“Rock Island Arsenal is critical to both our national security and the economy of the Quad Cities region. The men and women at the Arsenal manufacture top-of-the-line equipment that contribute to our nation’s military readiness. I will continue to work, on a bipartisan basis, with both my colleagues in Congress and military leaders to ensure security for the workforce at Rock Island Arsenal,” Durbin said.

“The men and women of the Rock Island Arsenal do essential work that strengthens our military, protects our national security, and keeps Americans safe. I’m glad to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in getting to the bottom of the Army’s plans for the Rock Island Arsenal, and I’m proud to advocate for my neighbors on the House Armed Services Committee to ensure the Arsenal’s essential work is sustainable for the future,” Sorensen said.

Grassley has been involved in efforts supporting Rock Island Arsenal through legislation aimed at expanding manufacturing opportunities at Army arsenals. He has also worked on appropriations measures intended to secure long-term stability for Rock Island Arsenal. In March, he co-sponsored legislation called The Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act which seeks to increase workload at Army arsenals such as Rock Island.

In June, Grassley joined other members of Congress in sending a letter requesting a briefing from U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll regarding possible command or personnel changes affecting Rock Island Arsenal; this request followed an initial inquiry made in April.